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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Poverty

Changes in Poverty Rates and Poverty Areas Over Time: 2005 to 2019
Examines changes in county poverty rates, the prevalence of poverty areas, and changes in their distribution over three time periods: 2005-2009, 2010-2014, and 2015-2019.
Author(s): Alemayehu Bishaw, Craig Benson, Emily Shrider, Brian Glassman
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: 2019
Highlights from the 2019 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), which provides single-year median household income and poverty statistics. Includes county-level maps showing income and poverty rates in 2019 and changes from 2007 to 2019.
Author(s): Staci Bell, Sara Robinson
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Synergistic Disparities and Public Health Mitigation of COVID-19 in the Rural United States
Describes how public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize racial, economic, and geographic disparities, especially among rural and poor populations. Covers public health mitigation measures, including disease surveillance, physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, and public health communication. Discusses the ethical demands of public health practice during and following a public health emergency.
Author(s): Kata Chillag, Lisa Lee
Citation: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 17(4), 649-656
Date: 11/2020
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Income Disparities Widen the Gap in Oral Health of California Adults
Policy brief discussing associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and oral health in California adults using data from the 2017 and 2018 California Health Interview Surveys (CHIS). Describes barriers related to oral health education, literacy, access to care, and oral health screening for low-income populations. Related infographic offers a map of oral health differences by region, noting disparities in rural California counties and data on income and racial/ethnic population characteristics.
Additional links: Infographic
Author(s): Nadereh Pourat, Maria Ditter
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organization: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
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Pipeline Programs Can Support Reforms in Medical Education: A Cohort Study of Alabama's Rural Health Leaders Pipeline to Engage Community Leaders
Presents a study examining the efficacy of a medical education pipeline program to provide healthcare professionals for rural communities in Alabama. Details the distributions of graduates throughout the state and highlights the counties by the percentage of their populations that are rural, poor, and Black, among other measures.
Author(s): John R. Wheat, James D. Leeper
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 11/2020
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Rural Legal Deserts Are a Critical Health Determinant
Highlights the role attorneys play in addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) during the COVID-19 pandemic and how their absence in rural areas exacerbates SDOH. Discusses the concept of "legal deserts" in rural areas, how they affect SDOH, and how things have changed during the pandemic.
Author(s): Michele Statz, Paula Termuhlen
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(10), 1519-1522
Date: 10/2020
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The Unseen Picture: Issues with Health Care, Discrimination, Police and Safety, and Housing Experienced by Native American Populations in Rural America
Report presents a study on the experiences of rural Native American adults related to housing, discrimination, policing, and healthcare access, quality, and affordability. Compares the experiences of rural Native American and rural White adults. Breaks down data by sex, age, and U.S. region, among other measures.
Author(s): Mary T.G. Findling, Robert J. Blendon, John M. Benson, Carolyn Miller
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(1), 180-186
Date: 10/2020
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The Impact of Coronavirus on Households Across America
Examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. households. Covers health, economic, and work-related impacts and related issues such as broadband access. Includes a section on problems specific to rural households. A separate report is available that focuses specifically on rural impacts of COVID-19.
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Public Radio, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2019
Provides estimates of poverty for the official poverty measure and the supplemental poverty measure, which takes into account government programs that support low-income families. Appendix Tables 1 and 2 provide data for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Liana Fox
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Income and Poverty in the United States: 2019
Reports on income levels and poverty rates for 2018 and 2019, along with the percent change from 2018 to 2019. Includes statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2020 and earlier Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
Author(s): Jessica Semega, Melissa Kollar, Emily A. Shrider, John F. Creamer
Date: 09/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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